Valve device for a gaseous medium, and tank device for storing a gaseous medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve device (100) for a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, comprising a valve housing (6) and a solenoid armature (14) which is arranged in the valve housing and can move along the longitudinal axis (18) and which interacts with a first sealing seat (32) in order to open and close an outlet opening (40). Furthermore, the valve housing (6) is equipped with a second solenoid armature (16) which can be moved along the longitudinal axis (18) and which is at least partly received in a recess (38) of the first solenoid armature (14), and the second solenoid armature (16) interacts with a second sealing seat (34) in order to open and close an outlet opening (20) formed in the first solenoid armature (14). The first solenoid armature (14) and the second solenoid armature (16) are additionally surrounded by a magnet device (11), by means of which the first solenoid armature (14) and the second solenoid armature (16) can be moved along the longitudinal axis (18) using precisely one solenoid (10).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A valve apparatus ( 100 ) for a gaseous medium, the valve apparatus having a valve housing ( 6 ) and having a first magnet armature ( 14 ) which is arranged therein and which is movable along a longitudinal axis ( 18 ), said first magnet armature ( 14 ) interacting with a first sealing seat ( 32 ) for opening and closing an outlet opening ( 40 ), wherein a second magnet armature ( 16 ), which is movable along the longitudinal axis ( 18 ), is arranged in the valve housing ( 6 ), said second magnet armature ( 16 ) being received at least partially in a recess ( 38 ) of the first magnet armature ( 14 ), and said second magnet armature ( 16 ) interacting with a second sealing seat ( 34 ) for opening and closing a passage opening ( 20 ) formed in the first magnet armature ( 14 ), characterized in that the first magnet armature ( 14 ) and the second magnet armature ( 16 ) are comprised by a magnet device ( 11 ), by way of which magnet device ( 11 ) the first magnet armature ( 14 ) and the second magnet armature ( 16 ) are movable along the longitudinal axis ( 18 ) by means of exactly one magnet coil ( 10 ), wherein the gaseous medium enters the valve housing ( 6 ) along the longitudinal axis ( 18 )
 wherein a spring ( 30 ) is arranged in the valve housing ( 6 ), the spring ( 30 ) configured to force the second magnet armature ( 16 ) toward the second sealing seat ( 34 ), the spring ( 30 ) also configured to force the first magnet armature ( 14 ) toward the first sealing seat ( 32 ), 
 wherein the spring ( 30 ) has a centerline that is collinear with the longitudinal axis ( 18 ), 
 wherein the spring ( 30 ) is seated in a recess ( 50 ) of the valve housing ( 6 ), and 
 
       wherein an inlet opening ( 22 ) discharges directly into the recess ( 50 ) of the valve housing ( 6 ). 
     
     
       2. The valve apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the magnet coil ( 10 ) has a coil housing ( 8 ), and the magnet coil ( 10 ) at least partially surrounds the first magnet armature ( 14 ) and the second magnet armature ( 16 ) in the valve housing ( 6 ). 
     
     
       3. The valve apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a stop element ( 12 ) is arranged in the valve housing ( 6 ), on which stop element ( 12 ) the first sealing seat ( 32 ) is formed. 
     
     
       4. The valve apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a flow cross section at the first sealing seat ( 32 ) is larger than a flow cross section at the second sealing seat ( 34 ). 
     
     
       5. The valve apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the first magnet armature ( 14 ) has a shoulder ( 36 ), which shoulder ( 36 ) interacts with a shoulder ( 52 ) of the second magnet armature ( 16 ), and, during a longitudinal movement of the second magnet armature ( 16 ), the latter serves as a driver for the first magnet armature ( 14 ). 
     
     
       6. The valve apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaseous medium enters the valve housing ( 6 ) through the inlet opening ( 22 ), which has a centerline collinear with the longitudinal axis ( 18 ). 
     
     
       7. The valve apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first magnet armature ( 14 ) and the second magnet armature ( 16 ) have centerlines collinear with the longitudinal axis ( 18 ). 
     
     
       8. The valve apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the outlet opening ( 40 ) is arranged at an opposite side of the valve housing ( 6 ) as the inlet opening ( 22 ), and the outlet opening ( 40 ) has a centerline collinear with the longitudinal axis ( 18 ). 
     
     
       9. The valve apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the valve apparatus ( 100 ) is configured such that:
 (A) when the second magnet armature ( 16 ) is not seated on the second sealing seat ( 34 ), the valve apparatus ( 100 ) passes the gaseous medium through the inlet opening, then between the first magnet armature ( 14 ) and the second magnet armature ( 16 ), then through the passage opening ( 20 ), and then through the outlet opening ( 40 ), and 
 (B) when the first magnet armature ( 14 ) is not seated on the first sealing seat ( 32 ), the valve apparatus ( 100 ) is configured to pass the gaseous medium through the inlet opening, then around the first magnet armature ( 14 ), and then through the outlet opening ( 40 ). 
 
     
     
       10. A tank apparatus ( 1 ) for storing a gaseous medium, the tank apparatus having a tank ( 2 ) and having a valve apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       11. The tank apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the tank ( 2 ) comprises a tank housing ( 3 ) with a neck region ( 28 ), in which neck region ( 28 ) the valve apparatus ( 100 ) is arranged, wherein the valve housing ( 6 ) is integrated at least partially into the tank housing ( 3 ), and the valve housing ( 6 ) seals off a tank interior space ( 4 ) of the tank ( 2 ) by means of a sealing element ( 26 ). 
     
     
       12. The tank apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the valve apparatus ( 100 ) is configured to control a throughflow cross section for gaseous medium from the tank ( 2 ). 
     
     
       13. A fuel cell arrangement having a tank apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10  for storing hydrogen for the operation of a fuel cell.